Lancaster defends subs policy after Woodward attack
England coach Stuart Lancaster hit back at criticism of his substitute policy after Clive Woodward said it had caused the team`s 26-24 defeat by France in their Six Nations opener in Paris on Saturday.
|Last Updated: Feb 04, 2014, 12:41 PM IST|Source: AFP
London: England coach Stuart Lancaster hit back at criticism of his substitute policy after Clive Woodward said it had caused the team`s 26-24 defeat by France in their Six Nations opener in Paris on Saturday.
Woodward, England`s World Cup-winning boss in 2003, used his column in Monday`s Daily Mail to attack Lancaster`s use of replacements in the final quarter, particularly the departure of scrum-half Danny Care.
"The substitutions coast England the game and that responsibility falls on the management not the players," Woodward wrote.
"There were fundamental coaching errors, the players did not deserve it and it is time to wise up," the former England and British and Irish Lions centre added.
But Lancaster insisted Monday the defeat was down to a wretched start that saw England fall 16-3 behind following two tries by France`s Yoann Huget.
"I don`t think the replacements were the reason we lost the game. I was certainly pleased with the impact all the substitutes made," Lancaster said.
"The biggest reason we lost the game was the start more than anything else. To be 16-3 down is one hell of a mountain to climb in that arena," he added following England`s return to their Bagshot training base, south-west of London.
"Hindsight is a wonderful thing in every component piece of the game.
"If we`d have dealt with the kick off, perhaps we wouldn`t have conceded the first try.
"If Danny Care had been 1mm further forwards perhaps he would have scored that try. There are lots of ifs, buts and maybes about the game.
"I have to trust the squad and the one thing I`ve learnt is that we win and lose as a team.
"I won`t hang anyone out to dry or look at any decision we made in any other context than what we do next to help the team win."
Woodward also questioned why several England players suffered from cramp at the Stade de France, saying that if the side were to stand any chance of winning the World Cup on home soil next year they had to be "the world`s fittest and most powerful team".
Fly-half Owen Farrell, debutant wing Jack Nowell and back-row forward Tom Wood all succumbed in Paris but Lancaster put it down to the demands of a helter-skelter match that produced an unusual ball in play statistic of 46 minutes.
"The amount of cramping was a reflection of the game. It was a match played at the highest intensity - the longest in duration in my time," Lancaster said.
"It`s a significant step up for a lot of players on what they do week in week out at their clubs, or even in Europe.
"It`s something we need to review and look at. If here`s anything we can do to prevent, we`re doing it."
England will look to get their Six Nations campaign back on track against Scotland, beaten 28-6 by Ireland in Dublin in their tournament opener, at Edinburgh`s Murrayfield on Saturday.
Lancaster is due to name his side for the Calcutta Cup clash on Thursday.
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.